Page:The Conscience Clause (Oakley, 1866).djvu/15

3 of the Privy Council to superintend the distribution of the Parliamentary grant. At once the new committee decided to hand over, not the whole, but a part only, of their funds to the two societies, and to retain the administration of the remainder entirely in their own hands; in other words, they resolved to investigate and decide for themselves upon the merits of each particular case as it arose. At once that investigation involved the preliminary questions hitherto taken from the societies upon trust: "Is a school needed at all?" and "if so, of what kind?" This raises instantly considerations of the religion of the neighbouring population as yet unprovided with means of education, and of the means to be taken to extend the advantages of it, purchased by public money, to the whole of that population. Consequently, among other precedents issued in 1839-40, one for the conveyance of a site or buildings, even for a Church of England school when not in union with the National Society, contains the following clause or provision:—

"And it is hereby further declared that it shall be a fundamental regulation and practice of the said school that the Bible be daily read therein by the children, and instruction in the Church Catechism and in the doctrines and principles of the Church of England shall at suitable times, [so many times] at least in every week, be regularly given to all the children in the said school whose parents or guardians shall not on religious grounds object thereto; such religious instruction to be under the superintendence and direction of the minister for the time being of the parish. Provided always that no child shall be required to receive or be present at such religious instruction whose parent or guardian shall object thereto on religious grounds, and that no child shall in any case be required to